Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 1978 F-150 shot box 4x4- New project

I picked up this 1978 Ford F-150 4x4 to play around with. I fell in love with these old truck in highschool, when I had a 79 Bronco.

I later had a 73 and a 76 f-150's and got rid of them before I could make anything of them.

So here is my '78. 351M/4sp 4x4.
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heres why a new cabs coming
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here are the goodies that showed up yesterday
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All stock right now except for the Edelbrock 4v intake and Edelbrock carb. It runs great, I don't expect to add anything but headers since the exhaust is shot.

I'm getting a different cab this weekend if I can get up there to get it. The condition of the box seems to be fixable, but if I can find a good one, I'll get it. That topper is in great shape, even the screens are still intact. Don't know if I'll sell that or keep it.

Got a 2" lift for the front, new shocks, and a urethane bushing kit for the suspension.

Next up is the steering, rear springs, breaks all around, ect.

Love it tzone.You got a good truck there.Glad to see the suspension is getting beefed up.Think we talked about springs in another thread?

Yep we did. I'm guessing these are 3/4 ton or 1 ton springs, they are serious heavy duty. Much bigger (dia) coils than the stock ones, not just longer.

They sure look beefy.Energy Suspensions make excellent products.Read the yellow box up top.

Suposed to be one of the good ones.

Not sure about the shocks, they are Superlift. Don't know if they make their own, or somebody else does. They too are made in USA.

I have a Tundra, but it is nice to keep the old Ford USA wherever possible.

I think Energy makes the rear springs I'm getting too.

Nice... the rust springs shocks looks so familiar..

Those are good trucks I had one we called witch doctor because I put and old straw broom sticking out the bed rails for sweeping it.

There is a cab sitting along the highway to westcliffe out here..

I bet.

OH MY! You're going to replace a cab?! That's alotta work! I cringe at that much work, but at my age, I am well past doing that type of restoration anymore. And where are you to have that much rust? I have a stock 1960 GMC 4x4 that was an original CA truck (now in AZ) and it has zero rust on it, if you can believe that! All original and no rust! I think I'm gonna sell it though, as I really don't need it.

Truck is from Northern WI and MN. Lots of salt on the roads there. the floors are completly shot. That shot of the floor is only the part I could get a pic of, carpet covered the rest of the bad stuff.

The new cab will probably be easier.

Just use fiberglass and spray foam... like the guy I bought the my bronco from

oh don't get me started on that crap

I'm a body/paint man. i've seen it all.

you can date the work by the period correct bubba-job.

window screen was pre spray foam.

rags were pre window screen erra.

That won't happen.

My pa's the body man in the family, but hates fixing rust, so I got a cab off a F350 tow truck, with suposedly good floors. It was free, so I'm not complaining. It can't be worse than this one.

There are tons of parts for these truck available, so if I have to replace the floor, so be it. On the original truck, there ain't much to weld the new floor to, hench the problem.

Got new goodies this weekend. FREE!

Got a cab and front clip, core supprot, upper trim pieces, good interior, did I mentioin Free! It cost me $30 in gas to go get the stuff.

Here is the cab:

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Much better floor: [img:center][/img]

two easily fixable holes, but I busted the back window putting it on the trailer. The cab I'm switching with has a good rear window, and windshied.

I bought a '75 grill and inserts. I'll pick those up this weekend if scheduling works out, so more to come.

well i'm, a chevy man but those ford's from the late 70's are good trucks

Looks like a nice project!

Oh it's a project alright.

I picked up a grille and inserts for it on Saturday night. They are from a 75. I like the split grille of the 73-77 better.

It looks like a project but it is a FORD. The only way to go.

tzone- mine has the same engine, Weiand intake and Edelbrock carb. Always a fan of Isky cams, that's how my '78 rolls.
As far as exhaust goes, I have a Hooker Competition setup that comes complete for these trucks from header to tailpipe. I don't know if they still make the kit, but it's worth checking out since it's complete, inexpensive, and an easy bolt-in. the pipes tuck up and run together above the t-case crossover; a clean install and out of the way for offroad. Good luck on your project. Your boy is gonna love it when you get it done.
Jim

thanks jim.

The boy already loves it, but he has a while until he get to drive it....he's 4.

The thing runs like a top, and I have no plans for a rebuild on the motor. If I need to do that, I have another 351M I'd throw in there, or I have a 390 that I'd stick in there.

I'm getting Headman headers, and we have a friend with a custom exhaust shop. He'll do that part.

Not looking to make a show truck, but I do want a nice reliable truck that I can take to the lake or the camp with confidence.

Tom, I drove my 77 in to work this morning.

thinking about tearing into it again, giving another short run towards the finish line ya know?